Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,569, James Fisher, Va. Mass. Res.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Fisher, James
P 3,569
Mass. res.
CONTENTS

21552
James Fisher
James Fisher
Petition 21552 of James Fisher For a Pension
Petition of James Fisher -
Mar 25. 1840
Report in - to be see report N. 557
Rev d Pensions
The only evidence of service in this case, is the statement of the claimant, that as to time is quite vague - Report Adverse
Please address answer to Brig. Merrill Salina Mar 25 1845
J. Taliaferro

And the said Court hereby declares its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that the Wold R ev . Rev. Bishop Gris- who who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in Salem and that the said John Pynchard who has also signed the same is a Magistrate resident at Salem and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
D r White Judge of Probate
I, NATHANIEL LORD Junior, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Fisher for a pension. I further certify that
Benjamin Merrill, whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate of oath, is a justice of the peace for said county, duly qualified to administer oaths, and that his name to said certificate is his genuine signature.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this
of January, A. D. 1833.
first
day
C. Bathurst Jr.

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS: COUNTY OF ESSEX, ss.
On this 11th day of January , A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the HONORABLE DANIEL APPLETON WHITE, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, now sitting, James Fisher , a resident of Salem , in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged 72 years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath, make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
That early in 1777 at York in Virginia he enlisted as a volunteer private in Capt Johnson's Company of light Infantry, his Colonel or other officers he cannot recollect, for the term of two years, and served in said Company one year and Eight months at Yorktown and vicinity till said Company was ordered to the north, when he was left sick in the hospital at Yorktown and as soon as he recovered was turned over to the Fort there and did duty therein till he had served out his said term in full: and that he then as a substitute for a man whose name he cannot remember, enlisted as a private in Capt Eddings' Company, he thinks that was the name of the Captain, and served at the fort at Yorktown three months, when he was honorably discharged:
That again in 1780, having little or nothing to do, he enlisted voluntarily as a private in Capt Archer's Company of Infantry in Col Giddings's Regiment of Virginia troops, for the term of Eighteen months, not to go out of that State, and was taken prisoner in 1781 there when Col. Tarlton took York, and came on his return to Williamsburg: the said Fisher there escaped from the British and returned to York and there remained till it was again taken by Lord Cornwallis and was then taken prisoner and so kept in Yorktown till the American Army got near the town: Cornwallis then issued a Proclamation and ordered all who did not wish to take up arms in the King's service to go out on parole: the said Fisher thereupon went out and went to the American Army and volunteered to be a waiter to an American officer, whose name he cannot recollect and served till the Siege was over,

He was born at the Eastern Shore of Virginia in Accomack County April 15. 1760 and when about 18 years old removed over to the Western Shore in Gloucester County - and lived there till 1774 and then removed to Little York and resided there till 1786 and removed to Ipswich in Massachusetts then and after residing there one year removed to Salem aforesaid, which continually from that time to this has been his domicile: he knows of no one that can testify to his service: and by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear more positively and particularly to the precise length of his service than as above stated, or to the names of any others of his officers: he had no  a written discharge and has no record of his birth: he has lost his discharge!
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
James Fisher
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
D. H. Hill
JUDGE OF PROBATE.
We, Alex r V. Griswold D.D. a clergyman, residing in Salem aforesaid, and John Pynchard Esquire, a magistrate, residing in Salem aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Fisher who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 72 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Alexander V. Griswold.
John Pynchard.
Subscribed and sworn to before
Brig. Merrill Dist. Clerk

Rev. Pension Claim
Act of June 7. 1832.
James Fisher.
(Map.)
(To examine Claim.)
3569.
Chas. L. Tucker.
Atty.
Present.

State of Massachusetts County of Essex,
Be it known, that on this eleventh day of January A.D. 1853 before me the undersigned a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid personally appeared Nancy Ellis and Mary Bowman both
residents of Salem in said County and made oath according to law that they are legal heirs of James Fisher who was a Soldier in the war of the Revol- ution and who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the pension act of That they are directly interested as claimants in said pension and make this affidavit to be filed with such ad- ditional evidence or arguments as my agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Countermanding and revoking all powers of attorney heretofore given. Whereby constitute Charles C. Tucker of Washington City my true and lawful Attorney to prosecute the claim of James Fisher for any amount of Revolutionary Pension or increase of pension that may be due: and hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim on file in the Department at Washington City or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments and to receive for my exclusive benefit the certificate which may be issued for said claim which certificate I wish may be made paya- ble at Washington City D.C. Agency, to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed and to do all things that he might or could do were he personally present. Hereby ratifying and con- firming all that my said attorney and agent shall law- fully do in the premises.
Nancy Ellis
Mary Bowman
Sworn to Subscribed and acknowledged before me the day and year above written and I hereby certify that I believe the said Nancy Ellis & Mary Bowman to be directly interested in said claim as set forth and to be the identical party therein alleged.
Joseph B. F. Osgood Notary Public.

Rev. War Section. am
February 15, 1916.
Hon. George W. Norris, United States Senate.
My dear Senator:
In response to your letter dated the twelfth instant, I have the honor to advise you that the papers on file in this Bureau show that James Fisher R. File No. 3569, Rev. War, applied for pension January 1, 1853, at which time he resided at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts.
He stated that he was born April 15, 1760, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in Accomack County; at the age of eight years he removed to the Western Shore and resided in Gloucester County, until 1774 when he removed to Little York where he enlisted as follows.
Volunteered in 1777, as Private in Captain Johnson's company of Light Infantry engaged principally in the sea coast service; captured a British foraging party and sustained a sword wound of forehead with which he was confined in hospital at Yorktown, where he afterwards served in the Fort until his time was out.
Afterwards served in Captain Eddings' company for three months.
Enlisted in 1780 under Captain Archer, Colonel Gibbens

(or Gibson) at Yorktown; was captured by Tarlton and carried to Williamsburg where he made his escape and returned to Yorktown which was taken by Cornwallis, and he remained a prisoner until the American Army drew near, when he was paroled, volunteered in the army as a waiter to one Thompson, and served until after the siege of Yorktown.
He stated that he resided at Little York (Yorktown) Virginia, until 1786 when he removed to Ipswich, Massachusetts for about a year and then settled at Salem, Massachusetts.
The claim was never allowed, for the reason that the claimant failed to furnish proof of his alleged service as required by the pension law of June 7, 1832, under which he applied.
In 1853, Nancy Ellis and Mary Bowman both of Salem, Massachusetts, claimed to be heirs of James Fisher. The date of his death is not shown nor is there any other data relative to family.
Very truly yours,
Commissioner.

1916 Feby. 15. Hist. to Hon. George W. Norris. P
REJECTED
5069
P. O.
James Fisher
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

See D. E. Cheney - Jan 20th Sam - Aug 6 " Sam - Aug 7 "
James Fisher Mass - Dec - 1832
31, 552
James Fisher
Mass -
act - 7 - June 52

Exby-Col Godwin - Oct 7 - 1872
James Fisher act 32, Declaration made and sent from Mass. served in Va

21,552 Massachusetts
John Fisher
Letter Gregory 26. Nov. 1841
" June 10. Dec. 1841
" 20 " 1841
Act. 1832

Wachprecht, November, 20th 1841. Honored Sir, -
Some two years ago I was called upon by the venerable Mr James Fisher of the adjoining City of Salem, and formerly a citizen of Virginia - an applicant for the benefit of the law of June 7th, 1832 - who made a statement of his case, & referred me to Benjamin Merrill Esq. who had formerly acted as his agent.
I, accordingly, called upon Mr Merrill who readily delivered over to me Mr Fisher's papers, together with a letter from your Honor respecting the claim, dated Sept. 16th, 1833, stating there was "no officer of the Virginia Line named "Giddings" and demanding the name of the Col. of the Regiment in which Mr Fisher first served &c.
I accordingly took a supplemental Declaration of Mr Fisher in which he amends his former Declaration in regard to the name of the officer under whom he served & gives some further particulars of his service not before named , particularly the cause of his detention at the Hospital, Yorktown, before the expiration of his first term of service.
The scar of the wound which he received, which was the cause of his detention, is now plainly to be seen on his forehead & exhibits a fearful mark of his wonderful escape from death.
A22.2

Added to his Declaration is an affidavit of Ephraim Brown Esq., of Yarmouth in this County, where Mr. Fisher first resided after he came from Virginia, which affidavit proves the fact &c. of his emigration from that State many years ago.
The Declaration & all the papers in the case I sent to Hon. Mr. Galieghero of Virginia, member of the U.S. House of Representatives, accompanied by a letter containing a history of the misfortunes of Mr. Fisher, & the cause of his emigration, with the peculiar hardships which his application is subjected to after so long an absence from his native State - where his Revolutionary services are alleged to have been performed.
It seems that Mr. Galieghero presented the papers to Congress, without any additional proof, & that the report of the Committee, was adverse to the claim - as indeed no other report could well have been made under the circumstances - unless the committee had had the Virginia Revolutionary documents before them to compare the facts stated in the Declaration by them.
Mr. Fisher thereupon got Hon. Mr. Saltonstall to withdraw all his papers, & they were accordingly delivered over to the writer together with the letter written to Mr. Galieghero in the case.
As it is understood that new Documentary evidence of Revolutionary Services from most of the States have been collected at the War

War Department since Mr Fisher's claim was first examined by it, I am now requested by Mr Fisher again to present his claim for examination together with such additional incidental evidence as he is now enabled to furnish.
I have now therefore to solicit in Mr Fisher's behalf that his statements & Declaration may be tested by such Virginia Documents as may now be in possession of the War Department.
A Certificate from fourteen of the most respectable citizens of Salem, affirming the good character of Mr Fisher will be found among his papers; and I believe I might truly say that no one who has heard him relate the particulars of his service in the War entertain the least doubt of the genuineness of his claim.
The letter which was forwarded to Hon. Mr Galbraith, & which was returned to Mr B. (probably accidentally) is also forwarded as verbal illustration of Mr Fisher's history.
I am, with the highest respect, Your Honor's obedt. Servt. James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.

J. Gregory
26 Nov. 1821
OL -

James Gregory Esq Marblehead Mass.

Pension Office Mar 25. 1841
268
Sir
The papers of James Fisher have been again examined, and have been placed upon the files of this Office. There are no records in this Department in any of the Execution Offices at Richmond Virginia that afford any evidence in support of the claim.
He alleges that he enlisted for two years in a company commanded by a Captain Johnson of the regular army. And although he continued to reside in Virginia, he never applied for the Depreciation pay which was allowed by the State.
Of the members of the Regiment, a name of its Colonel some known, it might lead perhaps to that some satisfactory result. But the information the claimant is unable to give. The question arises, why did he not apply for a pension under the act of March 18. 1818? At that time, proof might have been easily obtained from the testimony of some of those who served with him.

As it is, our rules of evidence will not justify the admission of Mr. Fisher's claim.
I am

101 Pension Office Dec 10. 1841
Sir
Your letter of the 3 rd inst o upon the subject of the claim of James Fisher has been rec d . and in reply I have to state that if Mr Fisher performed any military service in the State of Virginia during the war of the revolution, they must have been in the militia, the State troops, or in the Continental line. As I have already in a former letter stated, if he served in the State or Continental line of Virginia, the records in the Office at Richmond V a would show the facts. That they do not show it, is a strong presumption against the supposition of his having served in either line.
Of the militia service we have no rolls: but the knowledge we possess of the nature and course of that service, was not such as is described by Mr Fisher. Subsequent to the year 1776, with one or two exceptions, no militia term was of a longer duration than three months. In the

exceptions alluded to, they extended to from 4 to 6 months. The allegation then of Mr. Tucker, that he volunteered for 18 m th . from 1780 under Capt. Archer is wholly unsupported by the facts known to this Dept. in relation to the military service of N. W.
Col Gibson belonged to the Virginia Continental line, and his men are included in the list of continental men in this Office, D. A. J.
J. Gregory 10. Dec. 1841
James Gregory Esq. Marblehead Mass

Penn's Office Dec 20 1841.
2162
Sir
In reply to your letter of the 16 th inst, on the subject of the claim of James  Samuel Perkin, I have to state, that there was no Officer in the Virginia State or Continental line, of the rank or grade of Captain by the name of Archer. Of those by the name of Johnson, there were several.
There was also a Captain Eddings of the Artillery in the Continental line.
I consider the account given by Perkin of his having enlisted in 1780 under Capt Archer for 18 m th . under a stipulation that he was not to be marched out of the State: of his having been taken prisoner by Col. Tarleton at York and carried to Millersburg in 1781: of his having escaped and returned to Richmond York, where he was again taken prisoner by Cornwallis, and kept there till the American army got near the town and then discharged upon parole: and of his then immediately joining the American army, is highly improbable, to say the least of it.

Notwithstanding the unfavorable light in which the claim as viewed by the Dept t and which has also been rejected by Congress, Mr. Terhune may have persuaded some seniors. But the Dept t cannot make any allowances for it, unless it shall be fully established by proof.
Yours
James Gregory Dec 20. 1841 OC
James Gregory Esq. Marblehead Mass.

Marblehead November 30th, 1841.
Honored Sir,
Your favor of the 26th inst. relative to the case of the unfortunate old Virginian, James Fisher, has been received.
Desiring to avoid the infliction of a useless correspondence with the Department I at first concluded to abandon the applicant to what appeared to be his inevitable fate, but on a more careful examination of your favor I have thought that Justice to the poor old gentleman demanded a few observations upon its contents, however useless they might be in respect to the admission of his claim.
Your Honor's said favor states "he alleges that he enlisted for two years in a Company commanded by a Capt Johnson, of the regular Army!" From a copy of his original Declaration before me he says he "enlisted as a volunteer private in Capt. Johnson's Company of Light Infantry - nothing being named of the Regular Army in said copy. His second enlistment of 18 months he states was in Capt. Archer's Company of Virginia State Troops. Perhaps these latter might be called Virginia Regular Troops.
In his supplemental Declaration he states that he has no knowledge that the Company he first served in was attached to any particular Regiment, & therefore of course he cannot name any Colonel of it, as demanded in your favors of Sept. 16th '33 & Nov. 26th '41.
He

He states that this Company was employed mostly in the Garrison Service of the Sea Coast . I have evidence that part, at least, of Companies employed in such service, in this quarter, were attached to no particular regiment whatever .
The negative which the circumstance of his not applying for his Depreciation pay, & of his not applying for the benefit of the law of March, 1818, is supposed to put upon the government genuineness of his claim, cannot, as I humbly conceive & submit, be minor during the whole course of his alleged service; & if indeed any Depreciation was allowed for the kind of service he was in, (I am certain none was allowed for the Sea Coast Service in this place,) young as he was he might have been ignorant or careless of his rights in that behalf. It is a fact, also, that this Depreciation pay was not settled, in many instances, till some years after the war was over, & Mr. Parker left his native state in about three years after Peace took place .
Then again I submit, that the circumstance of his being in a land of strangers to his Revolutionary concerns when the law of 1818 made provision for him, that the time of his not applying for its benefits during the little of 1820 barred his claim on account of his property (since all destroyed by fire,) ought not to afford a presumption against his claim.
Under these circumstances I now have very earnestly & respectfully to beg in the old Virginian's behalf, that the Department will grant him the favor of an examination of the Rolls of those two Captains of the Virginia service whose names were Johnson & Archer, respectively . (one 3 months' term at Yorktown Post, after he was wounded, was under a Capt "Edwards", or near as he can recollect,) and without reference to any Regiment to which they might have been attached, or whether they were State

on Continental Corps.
From much conversation with Mr. Fisher I entertain scarce a doubt, that, if such named Captain's Company Lists are to be found among the Virginia papers, that the name of James Fisher will be readily found therein, with date & service very nearly corresponding with what he alleges.
And I beg to state further as the result of my researches & correspondence for him, that his first alleged term of service was probably performed in the "State Garrison Regiment" commanded by Col. Muller; and his second term (provided there was no Colonel of the name of "Gibbens" - as alleged in his supplemental declaration) - was performed in the Regiment commanded by Col. Gibson - this name sounding something like Gibbens.
In conclusion, may I not be permitted to hope in behalf of this unfortunate old man that the most unfortunate, extraordinary & unlooked circumstances of his case, will enable the Department to grant the favor of the examination now asked in his behalf?
I am, with the greatest respect, Your Honor's devoted servt. James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.

Marblehead, January, 31 st 1840.
Honored Sir:
I trust your Honor will excuse the following communication, written as it is by an entire stranger to yourself, but in behalf of a native of Virginia, the venerable Revolutionary Patriot, Mr James Fisher of Salem.
I desire to address you, not in your official capacity, as Chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, but simply as a Member of Congress & a Virginian; & I am confident your Honor will give all that weight to the matter herein contained which it may deserve.
Mr Fisher is an applicant for a Pension under the Law of June 7 th , 1832, & his original & Supplemental Declarations, Documents are herewith enclosed. It will be seen that he made his Original Declaration in January, 1833: that he was born in Virginia, & performed between 3 & 4 years service there in the War of the Revolution, in & about Yorktown - the last place at which he resided before his removal to Massachusetts. Owing to the great lapse of time since he left the State

State, his great age, & consequent loss of memory, he cannot so well define the service, & the names of the Officers under whom he served, as under other circumstances might be expected. But the facts of his case as sworn to by him, to my mind bear the stamp of simplicity & truth; & I believe there is not a citizen in this vicinity who knows him ( & there is scarce an inhabitant of Salem who does not,) that entertains the least doubt of the truth of his narrative. I might readily obtain the certificate of hundreds to this effect. The testimony of fourteen very respectable gentlemen of Salem in confirmation of this are now annexed to his Documents. The affidavit also of Ephraim Brown, who belonged to the vessel in which Mr Fisher took passage for these parts also accompanies his papers. The scar of the wound of which he speaks in his Supplemental Declaration is still to be seen on his aged forehead, & presents a fearful mark of his narrow escape from death while gallantly fighting for the Liberties which we enjoy.
Benjamin Merrill Esq of Salem, a gentleman of excellent character & every way competent first managed Mr Fisher's claim, but the Commissioner of Pensions, in his letter returning the original Declaration, dated Sept. 16 th 1833, refused to allow it, stating that his name did not appear on the Rolls of service
of

of the "Virginia Line" in his Office &c. and also that there was no Officer of said Line named "Giddings," & that unless he could produce some positive evidence of his service his claim could not be allowed. Also requiring him to amend his Declaration by stating the name of the Colonel of the last Regt. in which he first served. It was under these circumstances that Mr Merrill gave up the claim as nearly hopeless. Subsequently, some four years after, Mr Fisher applied to Hon S. C. Phillips, & that gentleman appears to have addressed a letter to your Honor in his behalf, & your answer of July 14 th 1837, covering one from James C. Heath Esq., Auditor of Public accounts, &c at Richmond, dated 6 th of the same month, have been handed to me by Mr Fisher; & it is at Mr Fisher's earnest request (also the desire of Mr Merrill) that I have been induced to make another effort for his relief.
Upon a close inspection of Mr Fisher's narrative of his case, & a full & free conversation with him, I am brought to the belief that his Revolutionary Services were performed mostly, if not entirely, in the Sea Coast Service Corps , & not in the "Virginia Line." Such Corps in this quarter were raised especially for the Sea Coast

Coast Defence, & were located on particular parts of the Coast, but were attached to no particular Regt. whatever . This to my mind accounts for the fact that he does not recollect of any Colonel of the Corps in which he first served! He however feels confident that Capt. Archer's Company - in which he last served, did belong to a particular Regt. & that the Colonel's name he now thinks was Gibbens . In his original Declaration he had stated it to be "Jiddings". The name of the American Officer under whom he served or acted as waiter he now thinks was Thompson .
Mr Fisher talks as familiar of Yorktown & vicinity as if he had lived there all his days. He also relates incidents of the Siege with such an air of truth & probability that no candid man can hear his story & doubt it for a moment. He also relates the fact of his acquaintance with the celebrated Virginia Hero and Patriot, General Thomas Nelson, & several of his brothers. He also states that he actually resided with the General some months in a menial capacity. Also that the Generals' Mansion was occupied by Lord Cornwallis during part of the Siege, & was destroyed in the course of it. It appears also by his Supplemental Declaration that in the course of his apprenticeship with Mr Ryland he was employed at the Generals' Plantation, in Hanover County, with

with his master, for about a year wearing clothing for his negroes. He also relates many other facts appertaining to his identity as a Virginian, & his Revolutionary Services, which place the truth & justice of his claim on such a foundation as will scarcely admit of doubt or cavil. And Mr Fisher's misfortunes too (independent of the severe domestic calamity which caused him to leave his much loved native State,) are such as must command the sympathies of every one.
After a long course of integrity, industry & frugality he became owner of a Rope Walk & Dwellinghouse, & a few years since while looking around for insurance against fire, & before he had secured a Policy, both Walk & House, Tools & Stock were reduced to ashes, whereby he lost everything he possessed, & found himself & family reduced almost to a state of beggary in his old age, when so little able to make an effort to relieve himself from such an appalling calamity.
It is under the circumstances herein briefly related, Honored Sir, that I have felt myself called upon first to place Mr Fisher's Documents into your hands instead of Hon. Mr Saltonstall, the worthy Representative of this District, believing that it might possibly be in your power from the knowledge which you must possess of the general track of Virginia service in the War of the Revolution, to afford Mr Fisher through the writer some information - or it may be some essential advice or service - that might be valuable to him, & which Mr Saltonstall 5 could

could not be expected from the peculiar circumstances of the case to be able to do. I have however in a letter to him of this date informed him of the course pursued, & I well know in advance that he will fully approve it. Any further information which your Honor may desire, & which it may be in his power to give will, I am confident, be cheerfully accorded by Mr. Saltonstall.
The letter of Hon. James E. Heath speaks of his not being able to find in the Military Archives any evidence that James Fisher ever settled his Depreciation account - nor indeed his name on any of the documents remaining in his office. I have consulted with Mr. Fisher upon this point, & he says he never put in any claim for depreciation. I have thought it possible that, as he appears to have been a minor through nearly all his service, his Master, Mr. Ryland, might have settled it for him - though even in that case Mr. Fisher's name ought to appear. Perhaps no depreciation accounts were settled by or for the Corps in which he served. The War Department has in its possession nearly all the documents that convey any light upon the Revolutionary Services of citizens of this State, & I presume the same may be true of the State of Virginia; but since these documents were conveyed to Washington many Rolls &c have been brought to light by the heirs of Officers, others & deposited in the State Archives; & I have thought it probable the same might have occurred in Virginia: If so, it is very possible that the name of Mr. Fisher might have found its way to the

the office of the Auditor at Richmond since the date of his letter of July 6th, 87. I first thought I would forward Mr F's Documents directly to Richmond; but upon more mature reflection, as I find your Honor has been consulted before in relation to the claim, I have thought it might be more conducive to Mr Fisher's benefit to submit them to your disposal. Not having the Virginia Pension Roll in my possession, I am unable to ascertain the names of such Pensioners as may reside in York County; nor do I know the name of any Individual in Yorktown to whom I might write for information. The communication of any such names would be very acceptable, as I might thus open a correspondence with them - or perhaps - if need be - Mr Fisher should desire it, sanction it - I among them & consult & the Pensioners or others themselves.
If you know of the names of any Virginia Officers of the Revolution that sound like those mentioned by Mr Fisher it might be advantageous to him if they should be communicated to the writer.
Finally, Honored Sir, in communicating Mr Fisher's Documents to you, I would respectfully beg of you any suggestion which you might deem for his advantage - whether it might be expedient for him to lay his papers (with a Petition) before Congress, or whether it might be best once more to place them - with the additional Documents now forwarded once more into the hands of the Commissioners of Pensions.
7 I have herewith enclosed a letter to the Commissioner

Commission to provide for the latter contingency, & respectfully request that it may be communicated with the documents to him, should the latter course be deemed expedient by you.
If not too much trouble, a word from you upon the receipt of this will be very acceptable.
I have the Honor to be, very truly & respectfully, Hon. John Bala-Lerre,      Your ob. & humble Servt. Member of Congress from State of Virginia, Washington, D.C.      James Gregory

Marblehead, December 16th, 1841. Honored Sir, —
I have received your favor of the 10th inst. in answer to my letter of the 30th ult. relative to the claim of James Fisher.
I presume from the tenor of your Honor's three several favors respecting this claim, that the fact of Mr. Fisher's not rightly naming the Colonel or Colonels of the Regiment or Regiments to which Capt Johnson & Capt Archer companies belonged - is the reason why it is stated that the Virginia Records do not show or corroborate his statement of his services. This inference I draw from your Honor's said favors, because I cannot find a word in them denying the alleged fact that there were two Captains in said service of the above recited names.
If indeed there are no Captains of those names upon such Virginia records as are now in your Honor's Office - with the information which your said favor of the 10th inst. gives of

of the usual length of the terms of the Militia Service of that State - I should at once be disposed to believe that Mr W s account of services is extremely improbable if not altogether fictitious; & as such I could best conscientiously make any further effort for him.
Can I then be simply informed whether the Virginia records now in the possession of the Department bear the names of said two Captains, as such, upon them?
I am, with the highest respect, Your Honor's humble servt. James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esq Commission of Pensions, Washington, D. C.

I, James Fisher of Salem in the County of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do on my oath testify & declare that I am in the eightieth year of my age; that I was born in the County of Accomack in the State of Virginia, on the fifteenth day of April, A.D. 1760; that I performed various service in the Revolutionary War in the Land service in the State of Virginia; that On the first day of January, 1833, I made my legal declaration with the view of claiming the benefit of the law of June 7th, 1832, for my said service; that the precise name of the Colonel of the Regiment to which I belonged while attached to Capt. Archer's Company I then stated to be Giddings , but upon more mature reflection I am inclined to believe it was Gibbons .
With respect to the name of the Colonel of the Regiment to which Capt. Johnson's Company is thought to have been attached - which name is demanded in a letter exhibited to me from the Commissioners of Pensions, dated September 16th 1833 - I do solemnly declare that I have no knowledge or recollection of any such Colonel. On the contrary said Johnson's Company in which I first served was engaged mostly in the Sea Coast Service & was attached to no particular Regiment whatever that I have the least recollection of.
And I do further testify & declare, that at the time I made my declaration I omitted to state the fact that I was wounded while I belonged to said Capt. Johnson's Company; that the circumstances of the said wound are as follows:
While we were stationed at said Yorktown an express came to Capt. Johnson informing him that a British Man of War had gone up Farni's

James River & landed a Foraging Party, upon the receipt of this intelligence our Company & about fifty volunteers started off in pursuit. Having ascertained that they had passed on into the interior - inland of a Piece of Woods at which we first arrived - we were ordered to halt in said woods & await their return. We accordingly tarried in said woods all the remainder of the day & the following night & discovered the enemy on his return on the following morning after our arrival. When the party came within musket range our Corps all discharged our guns at the enemy by which we killed a number of his men & put the whole to flight.
Our Col l now gave orders to fire no more, but for the whole Corps to commence pursuit, & for each man to single out some one of the fugitives. We accordingly all hands started off in chase. Now it so happened that between the fugitives & the River was a large field surrounded by a high Virginia Rail Fence - which greatly impeded their progress. The man that I had singled out in the chase reached the Rail but a moment before me, & in his haste to climb & pass it he stumbled & before he could rise again I had reached the fence myself & plunging my musket through one of the lower openings between the Rails I pierced his thigh entirely through with the bayonet, so that the square of it came out on the opposite side of the poor fellow's thigh, & here it held so strongly into the limb that I had a momentary struggle to disengage it amid the groans & spasms of the sufferer. It was now at this moment that a British Officer who happened to be near the man at the time I wounded him , glanced at his situation & turned & sprang to the fence, & made a pass at my head with

with his Broad Sword. The Poinc being high back the point of it reached me cutting through my hat & fracturing my skull slightly - the point of the sword - the rounding part - not having quite penetrated through to the brain. It was this wound the scar of which I now still have - & which caused me a vast deal of suffering in after life - that was the cause of my being left behind at the Hospital in Yorktown when Capt Johnson's Company was ordered "to the North" - as stated in my former Declaration.
We succeeded in capturing every man of the above mentioned Foraging Party - amounting to as near as I can recollect Sixty or thereabouts. We carried all our prisoners back to Yorktown & after placing the wounded in the Hospital the rest were all marched off to Williamsburg twelve miles above the former place.
Since I made my Declaration of said I have reflected much upon the name of the American Officer whom I served under as a waiter at the Siege of Yorktown - alluded to in my said Declaration, & I now feel very confident it was Thompson.
I was well acquainted with all parts of Yorktown & with most of the Inhabitants, & in particular I well knew General Thomas Nelson - afterwards Governor of Virginia - also his brothers Hugh, William, Robert & Thomas. General Nelson had eight Sons - part of whom bore the names of the General's brothers of his. I served part of an apprenticeship at the weaving business with Thomas Ryland of Yorktown, & former of Gloucester County. General Nelson had a Plantation in Hanover County, & my master & myself went there in General Nelson's employ & staid there about a year engaged in receiving clothing for his Negroes. The above statement of the main facts of my former declaration are nothing but the exact truth - according to the best of my recollection.
Witnesseth
Caroline Fisher
James Fisher
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. Salem, Dec 31 st 1839. County of Essex }
Then James Fisher, above named, & a gentleman of good character for truth & veracity, personally appeared & made solemn oath in due form of law to the truth of the foregoing Declaration - before me my known subscribed.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my Notarial Seal the day & year last above written.
James Gregory, Notary Public & J. H. the Peace.

I, Ephraim Brown, of Ipswich in the County of Essex, State of Massachusetts, do, on my oath testify & declare, that I am in the Seventy-fifth year of my age: that about the year 1786, or 1787, I performed a voyage in a Schooner from Ipswich to the State of Virginia & back again to said Ipswich - of which said Schooner my late brother, Elisha Brown, was Captain. And I do well recollect that Mr James Fisher, then of said State of Virginia, came on board of said Schooner from Yorktown - while we were lying in East River, a few miles above said Port, & engaged a passage here to said Ipswich, with the view of taking up his permanent residence in this quarter. Said James Fisher accordingly took passage with us - sometime in the month of April of one of said years - as near as I can recollect - to said Ipswich - went back to Virginia with us the then next December to make a final settlement of his business affairs & dispose of his property there, & returned to said Ipswich the April following. Said Fisher soon after his said return took up his permanent residence in the now City of Salem in said County of Essex, where he has ever since resided; and I well recollect that at the time he came on board said Schooner he was recognised & much respected by sundry citizens of said State, & both they & himself stated the cause of his leaving the State was a great misfortune which occurred in his family.
Ephraim Brown
attest. Lucas H. Brown Jr
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Essex - ss. Dec. 7th. 1839.
When Ephraim Brown Esquire, above named, personally appeared & made solemn oath in due form of law to the truth of the above affidavit by him in my presence subscribed and I certify that said Brown is a witness every way credible & respectable. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & affixed my Notarial Seal the day & year last above mentioned.
James Gregory, Notary Public, S. of the Peace.

We the undersigned, inhabitants of the city of Salem, in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Do hereby certify, that we have been acquainted with Mr James Fisher, of said city, many years; - that he is a man of fair moral character, and in our opinions, full faith & credit is due to his declaration. - Salem November 5 th 1839.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. } County of Essex. }
Uxbridge Dec 31 st 1839
I, the subscriber, Notary Public for & in said County of Essex, do hereby certify, that the fourteen gentlemen whose signatures are affixed to herewith are mostly personally well known to me, & that they are all reputed to be men of excellent character & standing in society; & in my opinion full faith & confidence is due to their certificate hereon signed.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand, & affixed my Notarial Seal, the day & year last above written.
James Gregory, Notary Public.
G. E. Philbrick
Israel D. Knowlton
Benjamin L. Brannan
Stephen B. Ines
Sylvester Phelps
D. R. Weston
Benjamin Starbuck
John Howard
Joseph Everett
Sophia Safford
Joel Barker
John Chamberlain
Ebenezer Chase
John Stone

G. W. NORRIS, McCook, NEBR.
United States Senate,
WASHINGTON, D. C.
February 12, 1916.
Honorable G. M. Saltzgaber, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Saltzgaber:-
A relative residing in Nebraska, desires to ascertain the personal description, age, birth-place, and regiment of Mr. James Fisher, who applied for pension as a Revolutionary War soldier, and whose claim was rejected in Report made May 25, 1840, by the Committee on Revolutionary War Pensions.
The foregoing is the information given by my constituent and I would like if possible, to obtain the data he seeks. Any assistance you may be able to render will be greatly appreciated.
Thanking you in advance, I have the honor to be
Very respectfully,
A handwritten signature in cursive, appearing to read "G. W. Norris". The signature is written in dark ink and is positioned below the closing "Very respectfully,".